BCCI announces India Women's Squad for one-off test, ODI & T20 series against Australia

By: WE Staff | Wednesday, 25 August 2021

As the BCCI revealed the women's teams for the upcoming one-off Test and limited overs series against Australia on Tuesday, seam bowlers Meghna Singh and Renuka Singh Thakur received their first India call-ups, while left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad returned.

The Indian team will depart on August 29 for Australia, where they will play three One-Day Internationals, a day-night Test, and three Twenty20 Internationals beginning next month.

The selectors decided to honour Meghna, 27, and Renuka, 25, for their achievements in the senior one-day tournament in April.

Renuka got nine wickets for Himachal Pradesh throughout the event, while right-arm medium bowler Meghna took five for Railways.

Yastika Bhatia, a left-handed hitter, was included in all three squads, but Priya Punia and Indrani Roy were left out.

Rajeshwari, an experienced spinner who played in the South Africa series, was not considered for the England tour because she was healing from a knee injury and had also contracted COVID-19.

The selectors named an 18-member side for the one-off Test and ODI series, led by skipper Mithali Raj, and a 17-member squad for the T20 series, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur.

Yastika Bhatia, a left-handed hitter, was included in all three squads, but Priya Punia and Indrani Roy were left out.

Rajeshwari, an experienced spinner who played in the South Africa series, was not considered for the England tour because she was healing from a knee injury and had also contracted COVID-19.

The selectors named an 18-member side for the one-off Test and ODI series, led by skipper Mithali Raj, and a 17-member squad for the T20 series, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur.

"The All-India Senior Women's Selection Committee on Tuesday picked the squads for India Women's upcoming tour in Australia. The series will comprise 3 ODIs, one Test match and 3 T20Is," the BCCI said in a release.

The tour will begin with an ODI series, with the first match taking place on September 19 at the North Sydney Oval, and the second and third matches taking place on September 22 and 24, respectively, at the Junction Oval.

The pink-ball one-off Test will be held in Perth on September 30, followed by T20Is at the North Sydney Oval on October 7, 9 and 11.

In preparation for the tour, the Indian players have been training in Bengaluru. The team would be quarantined for 14 days after arriving in Australia before facing the hosts in the first ODI.

After their tour of England, India will travel to New Zealand early next year to continue their preparations for the ODI World Cup.